AziPoint is a free software to quickly point antennas towards a given beaming azimuth provided either manually or by AziWorld or Beam_DX or N1MMLogger.
When installing from the azipoint_install.exe package, just follow the instructions.
If installing with the package azipoint.zip, the driver zntport.sys is to be copied in the directory windows/system32/drivers if you use a PourSat or FODTrack interface under WinNT, 2000, XP, 7+. Please note that this file is located in the sub-directory x86 for a 32-bits architecture and in the x64 sub-directory for a 64-bits architecture. Please read the relevant zntport.txt file.
AZIPOINT controls the following antenna interfaces :
- PourSat through the printer port (LPT),
- FODTrack through the printer port (LPT),
- GS232 (Yaesu) through a serial port,
- EasyComm through a serial port,
- ProSisTel through a serial port,
- TrakBox through a serial port,
- DCU-1 (HyGain) through a serial port,
- M2-ORION through a serial port,
- EGIS through a serial port,
- EA4TX through the ARSWIN software,
- KCT through the Movenow.com software.
WinRotor and SatDrive are compatible with GS232 as well as many other interfeces.
If you use the RTC-200 USB contrloler or a USB to serial converter such as the Trendnet TU-S9, after installation of their driver, these devices will create a new COM port in your computer. This new COM port will appear in the Init panel of Azipoint for each antenna interface requiring a serial port to work. Just select this COM port to have Azipoint working with your USB device.
To start, run AziPoint.exe and click the menu Init :
Choose your antenna interface and fill the relevant form :
For FODTrack or Poursat, choose the printer port (LPT), the STOP and, if necessary, the azimuth calibration factor and the azimuth zero offset. The calibration factor is for a 360 degrees rotor. If your rotor has a 450 degrees capability, please multiply the calibration factor by 0,8 (soit 360/450).
For GS232, EasyComm, ProSisTel, TrakBox, DCU-1, M2-ORION and EGIS, choose the COM port, the
COM speed (bauds) and the STOP.
Note : For ProSisTel, M2-ORION and EGIS, the speed is only 9600 bauds.
For EA4TX, get the ARSWIN software from EA4TX web site and install it. The stop is to be set in the settings of this software. In AziPoint, leave the setting to N. Please remember that AZRSWIN must be running together with AziPoint for a correct functionning.
For KCT, you need to set the full path of the software Movenow.com provided by KCT. For example c:\radio\kct\ . Don't forget the last \ at the end of the path.
The settings for the GS232, EasyComm, Trakbox, ProSisTel, KCT, DCU-1, M2-ORION and EGIS interfaces include an azimuth offset if required. Please enter the real offset of your antenna when the command is set to a zero degree azimuth. For example, if your antenna is pointing to a real azimuth of +10 degrees when sending a command of zero degree to the interface, enter 10 in the offset setting.
Finally, choose the minimum step to be taken into account between two successive commands.
Close the Init window.
The Main window includes 6 buttons for 6 favorite beamings. Click the mouse right button to initialize each of them. A new window opens. Define the relevant azimuth angle and text to be commanded and displayed for each button.. Close this wondow before using the buttons.
The Main window allows to command an azimuth angle by the following ways :
- using the manual up/down setting of the angle display
- using the up/down keys of the keyboard
- entering an angle in the special flield that opens when clicking the shortcut
CTRL+7 (numeric pad)
- using one of the 6 favorite buttons
- using the azimuth angle sent by AziWorld, Beam_DX or N1MMLogger if one of
these softwares is running together with AziPoint (see later).
To command the rotor interface, assuming that a valid azimuth angle is available (betwwen 0 and 360°), three ways are provided :
- Manually by clicking the MAN button
- Automatically by depressing the AUTO button (button AUTO down = AUTO
ON). In this case, the
command is sent as soon as a new valid angle is received by AziPoint. To concel
the AUTO mode, just depress again the AUTO button (button AUTO up = AUTO OFF).
- By clicking one of the 6 favorite buttons or the LP button
.
If all is correct, the red Led will blink for 3 seconds. If an error is detected, a beep is played and the red Led remains unlit. Such an error may have different origins : incorrect angle, no LPT or COM chosen, COM port in already in use by another application, ARSWIN is not running ...
If no beep is heard and the red Led remains unlit, this could be because no interface has been selected or because the angle is inside the step value with regards to the former commanded angle.
The STOP button stops the rotation of the rotor associated to the EA4TX, GS232, EasyComm, ProSisTel and DCU-1 antenna interfaces.
Azimuth angles sent by AZIWORLD, BEAM_DX and N1MMLogger
AziPoint listens to one the three applications named AZIWORLD, BEAM_DX and N1MMLogger. The choice of the application is to be selected through the Server menu. The two applications AZIWORLD and BEAM_DX have the possibility to run AZIPOINT directly from their relevant menu. In this latter case, the user must verify that AziPoint is configured to read the right application (AZIWORLD or BEAM_DX). AZIPOINT executes either manually or automatically the azimuth commands according to the state of the AUTO button.
If the user wants to use the angles from the N1MMLogger (Alt+J) software, he will have to verify the following points :
- at first add his computer IP in the file « N1MMLogger.ini » of
N1MMLogger :
[ExternalBroadcast]
DestinationIPs=127.0.0.1
- initialiaze in AziPoint, Init menu, the default server port of N1MMLogger (usually 12040). See the menu Config>Configure Ports>Antennas of MM1Logger
- initialiaze in AziPoint the Antenna port of N1MMLogger (=port Rotor in N1MMLogger), either 1 to 15 if you are using one of the bands that are associated to a port Rotor in N1MMLogger, or 16 if you are using a band that is associated to NO rotor port in N1MMLogger.
Example #1 : Azipoint is your control software for all bands. In this case, NO portRotor must be created in N1MMLogger and choose 16 as Antanna port in AziPoint.
Example #2 : Azipoint is your software to control the 14, 21, 28 MHz bands. In this case, in N1MMLogger, associate port Rotor #1 to these three bands and in AziPoint, choose 1 for Antenna port. The key ALT+J of N1MMLogger will start sending azimuth angles of the 14, 21 and 28 MHz bands.
Example #3 : (reverse from former example) : N1MMLoger manages the azimuth angles of the 14, 21 and 28 MHz bands through the port Rotor n#1 and Azipoint manages the other bands that have NO Rotor port in N1MMLogger. In that case, choose Antenna port n#16 in Azipoint. Then AziPoint will only receive the azimuth angles for bands other than 14, 21 and 28 MHz when the Alt+J is activated in N1MMLogger.
Please note that Azipoint.exe and N1MMRotor.exe cannot run together because they use the same ressource.
Maybe you will have to give authorisation for AziPoint in the Windows fire-wall settings.
Shortcuts :
Please use the numeric pad.
CTRL+1 : Button Fav1
CTRL+2 : Button Fav2
CTRL+3 : Button Fav3
CTRL+4 : Button Fav4
CTRL+5 : Button Fav5
CTRL+6 : Button Fav6
CTRL+7 : to open the angle window for manual angle setting
CTRL+8 : Button LP (Long Pass)
CTRL+9 : Button Stop
CTRL+0 : Button AUTO
CTRL+Q : Quit
CTRL+I : Init (to select and to initialize rotor interfaces)
CTRL+M : My Favorites ( to initialize favorites angles)
CTRL+ALT+A : Aziworld is the server
CTRL+ALT+B : Beam_DX is the server
CTRL+ALT+M : N1MM Logger is the server
CTRL+E : Language is English
CTRL+F : Language is French
F1 : help
Good Dx from Gabriel F6DQM
WEB site : http://f6dqm.fre.fr